FTC Extends Comment Period on Proposed Settlement with Marketer of Four Loko Malt Beverage Until December 2, 2011

The Federal Trade Commission has extended the deadline for the public to submit comments on a proposed settlement with Phusion Projects, LLC, the company that markets the beverage Four Loko, until December 2, 2011. In a complaint announced on October 3, 2011, the FTC alleged that the marketer made deceptive claims about Four Loko. Under […]

FTC Requires Parent of Market Research Firm IMS Health to Sell Two Product Lines Before Acquiring Rival SDI Health

The Federal Trade Commission today announced that Healthcare Technology Holdings, Inc., the parent company of market research firm IMS Health Inc., has agreed to sell two product lines of rival SDI Health LLC, as a condition of allowing it to proceed with its acquisition of SDI. The proposed settlement order requires the sale of SDI’s […]

At FTC’s Request, Court Orders Debt Collection Operation to Stop Deceiving and Abusing Consumers

At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a U.S. district court has halted a debt collection operation that allegedly deceived and abused consumers – making bogus threats that consumers had been sued or could be arrested over debts they often did not owe.  As part of its continuing crackdown on scams that target consumers […]

FTC Study Finds that in FY 2011, Pharmaceutical Industry Continued to Make Numerous Business Deals that Delay Consumers Access to Lower-Cost Generic Drugs

According to an overview of industry data released by the staff of the Federal Trade Commission, in Fiscal Year 2011, pharmaceutical companies continued a recent anticompetitive trend of paying potential generic rivals to delay the introduction of lower-cost prescription drug alternatives for American consumers. The FTC staff report found that drug companies entered into 28 […]

Former FTC Commissioner William E. Kovacic Named Recipient of 2011 Kirkpatrick Award

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz today named former FTC Commissioner and Chairman William E. Kovacic the 2011 recipient of the Miles W. Kirkpatrick Award for Lifetime FTC Achievement, noting how much of his professional career and personal passion Kovacic has devoted to the agency. “Bill Kovacic provided exceptional leadership during his years of service […]

FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges that DaVita, Inc.s Acquisition of DSI was Anticompetitive in Market for Dialysis Clinics

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that DaVita, Inc.’s acquisition of CDSI I Holding Company, also known as DSI, was anticompetitive and reduced competition in the U.S. market for outpatient dialysis clinics. The final order requires DaVita to sell 29 outpatient dialysis clinics in 22 […]

Third FTC Roundtable to Cover Motor Vehicle Leasing Issues, Review Sales, Financing and Leasing Issues from All of the Roundtables, and Discuss Possible Next Steps

The Federal Trade Commission will host its third roundtable on November 17, 2011, in Washington, D.C., to gather information on consumers’ experiences in the leasing of motor vehicles at dealerships. The roundtable also will address what has been learned about auto sales, financing and leasing at all of the roundtables; what consumer and business education […]

FTC Approves Final Settlement Orders Against Marketers Who Claimed Their Mobile Apps Could Cure Acne

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has finalized two settlement orders with three individuals who allegedly claimed that their smartphone applications could cure acne. The settlements bar the marketers of AcneApp and Acne Pwner from making acne-treatment claims about their mobile apps and other medical devices, or claims about the safety, performance, […]

FTC Gives Final Approval to Settlement with Google over Buzz Rollout

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has accepted as final a settlement with Google, and authorized the staff to provide responses to the commenters of record. The settlement resolves charges that Google used deceptive tactics and violated its own privacy promises to consumers when it launched its social network, Google Buzz, in […]

FTC Staff Says Proposed New York Legislation Likely to Lead to Higher Health Care Costs and Decreased Access to Health Care Services for Consumers

Federal Trade Commission staff, in response to a request from New York State Senator John J. Bonacic, stated that New York consumers would likely face higher health care costs and decreased access to health care services under proposed legislation that would allow coordinated activity among competing health care providers, beyond what the antitrust laws permit. […]